The recent cyber kidnapping incident involving Chinese students participating in an exchange program in Utah appears to be part of an international pattern in which unknown perpetrators, often posing as Chinese police or government officials, target Chinese students around the world and extort their families to tens of thousands of dollars.
In late December, 17-year-old Chinese student Kai Zhuang was reported missing near Salt Lake City. However, he was found a few days later alone and cold in a tent in a mountainous area. Authorities say the case was part of a cyber kidnapping scheme to defraud his family in China of $80,000.
Cyber kidnapping is an action carried out when a perpetrator pretends to have kidnapped someone to force their family to pay a ransom.
On January 3, just a day after Zhuang Kai was discovered, the FBI issued a warning about criminals posing as Chinese police officers to defraud Chinese people living in the United States, especially Chinese students. (lt/ka)